At 35 you are hardly a kid. And I agree that this is meant as an insult. But this is the approach the Clintons' camp takes. They lump Obama's supporters into groups, such as "kids", that they then condescendingly dismiss as unimportant to the process. And the underlying message is that the Clintons' supporters are the SERIOUS ones, THEY are the ones who get that ONLY the Clintons's can lead this country. The rest of us are naive, believe in "fairy tales," or, perhaps, are just plain stupid. After the Iowa caucus I read a quote from an 80-something woman - described as the Grand Dame of N.H. Democrats - dismissing Obama's supporters as "students and trendies." Dimssing students? Our nations future? Wow!!(I don't know what she meant by "trendies" so can't evaluate that part of the quote.)

At 51 I am unarguably not a kid. I also like to think of myself as someone whose seriousness and intelligence cannot be easily dismissed. And I believe that the over-50 women I work with at Obama's volunteer office are serious and intelligent women. And I believe that the over-50 Latina I spoke with on Sunday who had been on the fence, even leaning toward Hillary, but who is now supporting Obama 100% is a serious and intelligent women. I believe that the many over-50 women (indeed over-60, over-70) who were at the American University rally yesterday are serious and intelligent women. We think for ourselves, we have not made a frivolous choice.

After years of being disillusioned and disheartened, we have finally found a presidential candidate who has made us believe in this country again. Idealistic? Sure. But aren't ideals the bedrock upon which a nation is built? Ideals are the stars by which we navigate.

Hillary has been described as a "policy wonk." Nothing wrong with that - just as we can't survive without ideals, we can't survive without policy wonks to figure out HOW we make those ideals realities. BUT policy wonks are NOT leaders - they are advisors. I would never vote for a candidate if I did not believe that she/he has the wisdom and intelligence to grapple with the issues that face us and to develop policies to address these issues. Nor would I ever vote for a candidate if I did not believe that he/she did not have the competence and ability to implement those policies. But the ability to govern depends on the ability to inspire. I believe that Barack Obama has ALL the qualities we need in a President.

On a more frivolous note... and I do not want to marginalize the under-50 crowd because without your participation in the process this country has no future... but I have been annoyed by the way the pundits have pigeon-holed older women: they will vote for Hillary. So, how about WOFFO - Women Over Fifty For Obama? Maybe I will go to my.barackobama.com and start such a group... .

First things - I'm tried, grumpy and v. hungry so forgive if I am not as nice as I should be.

You wrote: "What is unsettling however, is the unmistakable notion that Obama's young supporters have a sense of entitlement and an attitude of "Obama or no one." Conversely, most young Hillary supporters, to my experience anyway, indicate they will support whoever wins the Democratic nomination."

- Could you explain what you mean by your statement that Obama's "young supporters" have a "sense of entitlement"? Do you mean that they have the audacity to believe that it is their turn? Respect your elders, don't jump the line? What exactly does this mean? Sorry, the "sense of entitlement" is all on the Clintons' side.

-- As far as "Obama or no one" -- who knows what Obama's supporters will do when push comes to shove. No matter which Democrat one supports you must admit that this is a very exciting election year. I have not seen this much widespread passion in the political process in...forever! The "Obama or no one" simply reflects that passion. Again, what happens in November in the privacy of a voting booth is anyone's guess. What I have heard from Obama's young supporters is that if Hillary is the nominee they will vote for her, probably even contribute some volunteer work BUT with much less passion and enthusiasm than they will if Obama is the nominee.

--- The reason that Hillary's young or slightly young supporters say they will support whoever is the Dems nominee is that they are all (at least the paid staffers or the unpaid wannabees on the campaign trail) self-interested, ambitious hacks. Sorry, I live Inside The Beltway - I've met these people - I know the type.

---- Finally: LET US GET THIS STRAIGHT ONCE AND FOR ALL --- NOT ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE YOUNG MANY OF US ARE OLD, OLDER AND OLDEST. STOP THIS CONSTANT STEREOTYPING AND PIGEON HOLING OF OBAMA SUPPORTERS - THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON THAT THIS IS BEING DONE - TO STOP HIS MOMENTUM BY MINIMIZING THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF OBAMA'S SUPPORT. NO. WRONG. BAD. DROP THIS LINE OF ATTACK. OBAMA IS NOT A FLASH IN THE PAN FAD, NOT A FAIRY TALE - DEAL WITH IT.